In another major milestone in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Kangaroo Island community will soon have access to their vaccine close to home through a partnership between the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network and the Kangaroo Island Council.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said 3,500 vaccines will be delivered to Kangaroo Island by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
"The joint effort is another demonstration of the collaborations that are ensuring vaccine is within the reaches of every South Australian and, in particular, ensuring Kangaroo Island residents have access to the vaccine close to home," said Minister Wade.
"From Tuesday 8 June, vaccinations will commence at the Town Hall in Kingscote and will run for around 3 months, offering both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines with the capacity to deliver more than 150 vaccinations per day.
"We are focused on providing a safe and steady vaccine rollout for the community to ensure everyone has access to this vital vaccination."
This is the second wave of vaccinations on the Island. A team was sent to Kangaroo Island earlier this month to vaccinate priority groups including frontline healthcare workers, aged care residents and emergency workers as part of Phase 1a and 1b.
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Graham, said the delivery of vaccines to Kangaroo Island will play a key role in ensuring more Islanders can access the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Our priority is ensuring every Kangaroo Island resident can safely access the vaccine as soon as possible, and we have worked closely with Royal Flying Doctor Service and the local council to ensure this can happen," Ms Graham said.
"This is a significant step for our Local Health Network and our nursing staff have done a fantastic job in continuing to provide health services whilst rolling out the vaccination program to those most in need.
"We are pleased to have administered more than 1,000 vaccinations across the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network to priority groups in Phase 1a and 1b, and this number will be further bolstered as we scale up the vaccine rollout and deliver these vaccines to the community."
Royal Flying Doctor Service Executive General Manager Health Services Development and Clinical Governance, Natalie Szabo, said the Flying Doctor would support the vaccination program on the ground with a team of authorised Immunisation Nurse Specialists.
"The RFDS is proud to deliver integrated emergency aeromedical and primary health care to rural and remote communities across South Australia. We're pleased to partner with the Barossa Hills Fleurieu LHN to offer a safe, quality vaccination service to the Kangaroo Island community," said Ms Szabo.
The Kangaroo Island vaccination clinic will operate from 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Saturday.
You can check your eligibility and book in for a vaccine through the SA Health website.
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout across South Australia will be undertaken in line with the Commonwealth Government's Vaccine Roadmap.
Find out more about COVID-19 vaccinations at covidvaccine.sa.gov.au.
